medieval

 
Pronunciation: /ˌmɛdɪˈiːv(ə)l, miː-/
(also mediaeval)

adjective

  • relating to the Middle Ages: a medieval castle
  • informal resembling or likened to the Middle Ages, especially in being cruel, uncivilized, or primitive: without other people around I would let my flat degenerate into medieval levels of squalor

Derivatives

medievalism

noun

medievalist

noun

medievalize

(also medievalise) verb

medievally

adverb

Origin:

early 19th century: from modern Latin medium aevum 'middle age' + -al

Spelling help

Medieval can also be spelled mediaeval, with an a after the i: both are correct.